http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_19165586
A graffiti-covered van and an unusually forthcoming driver caught deputies' suspicion Thursday night, and their instincts paid off -- to the tune of 46 pounds of confiscated marijuana.
Alameda County Sheriff's investigators said it was the largest single marijuana bust from a traffic stop they can recall.
Patrol deputies saw a van covered in graffiti on the North Livermore Avenue offramp from westbound Interstate 580 at about 8 p.m. and ordered it to pull over. After running the van's license plate, they discovered the registration tags were current but didn't match up with a valid registration, said Lt. Colby Staysa.
Deputies asked the driver about the tags, and he freely admitted the registration was expired and that the tag was fake, Staysa said.
A deputy mentioned a strong odor of marijuana, and the driver admitted to having some in his pocket. But the odor was too strong to be explained simply by his pocket's contents, Staysa said, which prompted more questioning.
Deputies asked the driver whether he had more marijuana, and he told them he had "46 in the back." Staysa said a deputy asked if he meant 46 grams.
No, the driver answered, 46 pounds. ....![Red Eye :eyesmoke: :eyesmoke:](/styles/smilies/redeyesmoke.gif)
![bongsmilie bongsmilie bongsmilie](/styles/smilies/bong7bp.gif)
A graffiti-covered van and an unusually forthcoming driver caught deputies' suspicion Thursday night, and their instincts paid off -- to the tune of 46 pounds of confiscated marijuana.
Alameda County Sheriff's investigators said it was the largest single marijuana bust from a traffic stop they can recall.
Patrol deputies saw a van covered in graffiti on the North Livermore Avenue offramp from westbound Interstate 580 at about 8 p.m. and ordered it to pull over. After running the van's license plate, they discovered the registration tags were current but didn't match up with a valid registration, said Lt. Colby Staysa.
Deputies asked the driver about the tags, and he freely admitted the registration was expired and that the tag was fake, Staysa said.
A deputy mentioned a strong odor of marijuana, and the driver admitted to having some in his pocket. But the odor was too strong to be explained simply by his pocket's contents, Staysa said, which prompted more questioning.
Deputies asked the driver whether he had more marijuana, and he told them he had "46 in the back." Staysa said a deputy asked if he meant 46 grams.
No, the driver answered, 46 pounds. ....
![Red Eye :eyesmoke: :eyesmoke:](/styles/smilies/redeyesmoke.gif)
![bongsmilie bongsmilie bongsmilie](/styles/smilies/bong7bp.gif)